Introduction to GSEP ♦ News Releases ♦ Trip Reports
In the fall of 2000 a group of technical divers from the Houston area contacted Robert Laird about his knowledge of Goodenough Springs. Robert agreed to guide us to the site and plans were laid for this initial trip. Arriving at the site we found no marker buoy, and with the constantly changing lake depth it was very difficult to actually locate the spring opening 110+ feet below the lake’s surface. It was late that evening before the cave was located, and it would be a few more weeks until we could place the first permanent marker-buoy (an old propane cylinder) at the site.
We spent the next 2 1/2 years making continual improvements to the mooring system while slowly working our way towards the cave’s major restriction at nearly 200 feet of depth. During the slow push towards the restriction we had to continually fight the unrelenting outflow of water in the Fire Hydrant Tunnel. We were essentially climbing our way down against the flow with the aid of mountain-climbing hardware (pitons, carabiners, and ropes) and techniques.
It was August of 2002 before our teamwork approach opened a hole in the gravel dam (restriction) large enough for our smallest diver to squeeze through utilizing a sidemount dive-gear configuration. What he found on the other side was a steeply declining cave profile with no end in sight. 2002 ended without another successful penetration of this underwater gravel dam.
In the Spring of 2003 we formalized our efforts establishing the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project. Our determination had been renewed by the deep penetration of 2002 and interest in the project surged following a public presentation of our work at the Seaspace dive show in June. Then in mid-July of 2003 the area surrounding Goodenough was deluged with the remnants of Hurricane Claudette. In spite of several determined attempts we were precluded from diving throughout the remainder of 2003 due to the violent and impenetrable rush of water caused by the hurricane. Following the incredible ” flushing” of the cave in 2003 we found that much of the rock and gravel had been moved into the passage just outside the restriction. Our three-year effort to make the cave passable had been completed by the effects of one well-placed rainstorm. And later that summer, in August of 2004 we extended our penetration and exploration to 393 feet of depth. While the length of penetration into the cave is only several hundred feet, the depth at the end of the guideline is more than 400 feet at current lake levels.
Following 2004’s record-setting dive, planning began to extend the exploration even further into the aquifer, but several obstacles had to be overcome in order to do these dives safely. First of all a hot-water system was designed to warm divers during long decompression stops in the cold lake water following dives beyond 400 feet of depth. In addition, a system was devised to transfer the massive quantities of mixed-gas necessary beyond the deep sidemount restriction.
Throughout 2005 and 2006 the GSEP continued to maintain and enhance the mooring and guideline systems at the site though we were unable to attempt any concerted effort to extend our previous penetration. Instead, we focused our efforts on assisting in the collection of scientific data at the site. In cooperation with researcher Ray Kamps and Texas State University we were able to accurately document the spring’s outflow volume for the first time since its inundation in 1968. Water sampling was also conducted on a regular basis for TSU and other agencies.
Near the end of 2006 we renewed our commitment to extend the exploration. A new, larger dive vessel was purchased in order to accommodate the increased load of necessary divers and equipment. At the same time, additional scientific water-monitoring equipment was purchased to aid in our research focus. As a group we are now collectively equipped to provide round-the-clock recording of several water-quality parameters, 365 days a year. We are also establishing a cooperative program to provide voluntary water sampling to various state agencies for publication.
While our main focus remains ” the exploration and mapping” of the Goodenough Springs system, we are very pleased to be establishing a cooperative scientific effort with the educational and governmental communities.
Due to the efforts of the Goodenough Springs Exploration Project this incredible natural resource has remained an open and accessible site. The well-maintained mooring system consisting of a regulation mooring buoy, galvanized anchor chain, sub-surface support buoys, and a reliable anchorage has remained in place for over 7 years without fail. In addition the cave is enhanced with guidelines and signage in accordance with cave-diving agency standards. Though the dive site remains open to the public during our ongoing efforts we cannot over-emphasize that dives to the spring opening or into the cave should be considered highly advanced dives. The depth alone requires the use of Trimix breathing mixtures, and any excursion into the cave should be conducted only with proper (full-cave) training and equipment.
| Click here for current lake level or here Buoy 17: Latitude 29°31’12.6″ , Longitude 101°15’18.6″ NAD27
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